Starrla Penick is married to Dr. Mark Penick, Senior Pastor of Metro East Baptist Church. She was born in Houston, raised near Dallas, but never experienced the true south until she moved with Mark to Atlanta, Georgia for a pastoral mentorship in 2004. However, living in the midwest since 2011 has resonated with her unpretentious, loyal, and hard working personality. Central to Starrla's life is her relationship with Jesus; she felt a calling to be a Pastor’s wife at the age of 16, before they met. For over 30 years, she has committed her life to making Him known and famous and sharing the resulting contagious joy with others. Serving alongside Mark in ministry, Starrla believes her primary complimentarian role is first and foremost to be his helpmate and support, helping him to be all that he can be as Pastor, in the home and at the church. She also enjoys cultivating relationships with women in the church, teaching, and speaking. Starrla and Mark have three children, Jaxton, Crewson, and Luxeigh.
With an educational background in Psychology and Spanish Literature, Starrla earned a Master's degree in Development and Family Studies in 2007 from the University of North Texas. As a Certified Parent Educator and Certified Family Life Educator, Starrla values the family unit and is passionate about equipping parents, families, and women to have healthy, successful relationships in order to achiever greater goals and lead productive lives. She firmly believes that "when we know better, we do better" which is why since 2008 she has accepted over 100 invitations to use her passion and expertise to deliver psycho-educational seminars, workshops, and classes that is practical to families, professionals, and practitioners. From 2008-2011, Starrla served as the Vice President of Programs on the Board of Texas Association of Parent Educators. Until the birth of their third child, Starrla was the National Senior Director, Programs for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and continues today as a Curriculum Development Consultant to MADD.
Starrla enjoys long distance running and working out, traveling, drinking coffee, reading, event planning, and simply being home with her family.
With an educational background in Psychology and Spanish Literature, Starrla earned a Master's degree in Development and Family Studies in 2007 from the University of North Texas. As a Certified Parent Educator and Certified Family Life Educator, Starrla values the family unit and is passionate about equipping parents, families, and women to have healthy, successful relationships in order to achiever greater goals and lead productive lives. She firmly believes that "when we know better, we do better" which is why since 2008 she has accepted over 100 invitations to use her passion and expertise to deliver psycho-educational seminars, workshops, and classes that is practical to families, professionals, and practitioners. From 2008-2011, Starrla served as the Vice President of Programs on the Board of Texas Association of Parent Educators. Until the birth of their third child, Starrla was the National Senior Director, Programs for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and continues today as a Curriculum Development Consultant to MADD.
Starrla enjoys long distance running and working out, traveling, drinking coffee, reading, event planning, and simply being home with her family.
